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It’s not like we’re seeing that money, anyway.The account Candace’s weekly payments routed to went straight to the FBI for evidence.
“You want me to wait here with the car?” Luke spoke to Vanessa with his eyes glued to the rearview mirror. “How long do you think you’ll be at your party?”
“It might be a good idea if you park in the main garage. Or leave the car here and walk out elsewhere. I will text you when we’re ready to leave. Could be two hours. Maybe three.”
“Gotcha. I’ve got a buddy who tends a bar down the street. Maybe I’ll drop in and say hi.”
“Don’t get drunk,” Mitch said.
“Pff. Do I ever?”
No, but that was beside the point.I need him ready to get us out of here at a moment’s notice.Vanessa didn’t anticipate danger, but what she and Mitch planned to do that night went deeper than mere entertainment. Mitch was about to enter a convoluted scene that required more than “putting herself out there.”
Luke helped them out of the backseat. He waited until they were in the underground corridor leading to Club Night before his steps echoed across the large, private garage. Vanessa didn’t like having him so far away, but she also didn’t want to upset Candace by leaving her male driver in the lot where other women might pass judgment.
“Remember what we scripted.” Vanessa and Mitch stood a few yards away from Jade, who stood in front of the club door with her sunglasses on and curiosity tugging on her ear. Vanessa didn’t know what the undercover civilian thought of everything Mitch did in this club, but it also didn’t matter. They were here to work. “Once we pass through those doors, you have to beon.” She adjusted the color of Mitch’s coat, careful to avoid messing up the blond wig that she took great pains to set on her head just right. If there was one thing Vanessa knew about her “Michelle,” it was that everything she wore and how she styled herself for a night as the most perfect submissive held a purpose. Far be it from Vanessa to take that from her… “We will certainly wow them, though.” She smoothed Mitch’s sleeves. “How could we not?”
A smirk touched Mitch’s mouth. “I look forward to it.”
Vanessa sighed. “That’s good.”
“You should too.” Mitch in turn fixed a wrinkle in Vanessa’s belt. “Pretend this is a party we’ve been looking forward to all week. It’s all women again. Our favorite.”
“Think of all the poor men who are missing out on you tonight.”
“I never do.”
That brought a smile to Vanessa as well. “Neither do I.”
She appreciated Mitch’s resolve to find the beauty in the scene, even if it were for an unfortunate purpose.I should try. She’s going to be great.Any other hostess, any other club, and Vanessa would be all about it. Especially since Mitch woretheircollar that night.
And Vanessa hadtheirleash.
Jade was required to snoop through Vanessa’s large velvet bag before they were let into the club. While this was for Candace to ensure nobody brought in weapons or drugs, Vanessa didn’t doubt that the FBI preferred those circumstances as well.No weapons, unless you count the sharp game tiles.Vanessa supposed she could cause some damage with those.No drugs.Some people preferred them to get into the mood, but Mitch had a firmer rule against them than even Vanessa did. Then again, Mitch had seen more of the effects of drugs during her military career than Vanessa ever had in her life.
It surprised some people, but not Vanessa.
They were two of the last to arrive at Candace’s party, and that was by design. Not only did Candace prefer the idea of the big surprise waltzing in when everyone had one round of drinks in them, but Vanessa desired the immediate distraction.
What she didn’t anticipate was how crowded such a small space was.
There were at least nine guests, not including Candace, the staff, or the entertainment.Us.A cursory glance announced the usual suspects of Stella, Thalia, and the bartender Amalie, all of whom were busy running drinks and making light conversation with Candace’s guests. The hostess herself arrived from the back rooms with a call for canapes. That was Stella’s purview as she carried a tray into the sunken pit and offered cucumber sandwiches, oysters, and crab palmier with gruyere. When she stopped by Mitch and Vanessa, she winked at them and said, “The oysters get you going, if you know what I mean. A gift from Ms. Lister.”
Vanessa helped herself. She might need some oyster inspiration for tonight.
Who else is here?Mitch had to fill her in with some of the names since this was a crowd that Vanessa did not run with. They were not her clients, her friends, or somehow knew her father before he died. She might recognize the woman she met her first night here, but Mitch had to remind her that it was Irene Feist. The young woman with her was named Helena. Mitch said both names with the implication that she was not happy to see them there.
Also in attendance, some of whom Vanessa recognized on her own, were Candace’s goddaughter Violet Pell-Martin and Freida Laakso. Freida was the biggest fish out of water. When Vanessa had asked why someone like Freida, whom the couple had been professional and friendly with since moving to San Francisco, was involved with Candace, Mitch only had one answer.“She’s in a bit too deep.”
Vanessa had a few ideas about what that might mean.
“Can I get you two anything?” Thalia wore a sheer blue slip dress with nothing underneath. Her brown hair was up in an elaborate twist with pink flower clips decorating the ice-frosted look added to her brow. She looked like a snowflake. Or a winter’s princess, perhaps. “Ms. Lister has opened up the French wine she’s been saving. You know, the really good stuff.”
“I’ll have a ginger ale, please.” Alcohol was off the menu for Vanessa right now, but the sky was the limit for Mitch. As she wrapped herself around her Mistress’s arm, Vanessa announced, “My Michelle will have a white rum and Sprite.”
“Be right back.” Before she departed for the bar, Thalia offered a girlish look to Mitch, who remained as unflustered as ever.
“What was that about?” Vanessa asked her partner.
